As an innovative leader in services to children and adults with disabilities in Georgia, Frazer Center is expanding its reach and fostering inclusive communities through the new Frazer Center Inclusion Institute.

The Inclusion Institute is designed to share training opportunities and resources with individuals and organizations in the Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and Early Childhood Education (ECE) sectors.

There are currently three main programs within the Institute:

The Refugee Intern Program was created to address the staffing crisis in early education. By partnering with the Refugee Women’s Network, Frazer has piloted a 16-week training program for a cohort of women from Afghanistan. By the end of the program, the cohort will have completed their Child Development Associate certification and be eligible for full time employment with the Frazer Center. A second cohort is being formed, and the CDA certification training will soon be available to current Frazer staff.

Frazer’s Inclusion Nature-based Early Education Program is one of the only of its kind in the country. In partnership with Georgia State University’s Urban Child Study Center, Frazer’s Child Development team created a curriculum that will be shared with other ECE providers beginning in the summer of 2022. This outreach program is designed to ensure that children in under-resourced communities throughout metro Atlanta have access to nature-based learning. 

As the pandemic restrictions continue to lift and Frazer’s Adult Services programming returns to full capacity, the Adult Services leadership team is working to expand Community Access programs so that more individuals with I/DD can be met in their own communities. Project Achieve allows for Frazer staff to work one-on-one with these individuals, helping them build relationships with their neighbors, and providing access to social, recreational, and educational opportunities in the metro area. 

These three programs are just the start. Frazer Center’s relatively small size allows for agility and innovation, and the Inclusion Institute holds the potential to impact professionals and communities far beyond Frazer’s four walls.

If you would like to support Frazer’s Inclusion Institute, please CLICK HERE.